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Post by Bouncer_Texxx on Mar 11, 2011 20:48:44 GMT -5
TO: Tommy Benizio, Commissioner Indoor Football League CC: Robert Loving, Assistant Commissioner, and Michael Allshouse Dir Football Operations
Dear Mr Benizio:
Did this game even happen? Is it Happening? I am taking time to send this email in order to express my continued displeasure with the inability of teams, specifically the new teams to get their act together regarding B2/America One streaming and Pointstreak Live Stats. While I have not done the math, I'm guessing half of the games thus far this season have not have had live stats working. I know this is a failure at the team level, but these are things that reflect negatively on the league as a whole if you wish to market the IFL brand as "Premiere".
Truly top end sports organizations require compliance from the member teams. I know compliance used to be a big deal in the IFL, as a matter of fact. The fact that I can get streaming audio, video, and live stats from NAIA Women's baskeball in rural South Dakota just goes to prove that the IFL, and a good number of it's teams, have a long way to go to be considered anything more than marginally better than semi-pro.
I traveled nearly 5000 miles following IFL football last season, including the championship game in Billings. The league has continuously come up short in marketing and visibility of their product, which I believe is the best 50 yard non-outdoor American football product on the market today. The problem is that if you cannot consistently get your product out to interested parties, you fail to grow. This is true at the team level as well as the league. If statistics aren't readily available, the viability of the players suffers.
Just because a team has owners with deep pockets doesn't mean they should be courted and allowed in the league. I understand that is not the call of the folks receiving this email, but it is a problem that continues in year three, and appears only to be getting worse. Teams should demonstrate ability to market their product to their potential demographic, as well as demonstrate an aptitude for handling the simple technological tasks that are required to maintain an even presence for each and every league game.
Now, I'm an I.T. guy by trade, and I understand things happen, but shouldn't the league insist on certain, and specific criteria be met when it comes to providing technology based services to their fans, and fans throughout the league. Local colleges or high schools have AV clubs, including cameras and tech savvy personnel able of providing a internet video feed. Many of these areas also have capable statisticians, many of whom may already be familiar with stat programs such as Pointstreak.
Best Regards
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Post by Micah008 on Mar 11, 2011 21:39:59 GMT -5
I wrote a letter a few days ago myself. But yours was better Texxx.
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Post by Banana Cat on Mar 11, 2011 21:46:00 GMT -5
Nice letter Texxx.
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Post by Banana Cat on Mar 11, 2011 21:46:31 GMT -5
I wrote a letter a few days ago myself. But yours was better Texxx. Better than mine too.
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Post by superpicker on Mar 14, 2011 12:05:00 GMT -5
Though not a head shrinker, Einstein, defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Accept it as part of the sports rich pageantry already.
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Post by Bouncer_Texxx on Mar 14, 2011 13:59:10 GMT -5
*posted with permission*
Response from Mr. Benizio **************************************************************** Good morning Dave,
I agree with nearly every word of your e-mail. I can assure you that we have a full-time, year-round staff that is doing everything that can be done to correct our short comings. It is a lot more difficult than it may look to get so many teams with so many staff members to get on board and follow through despite our encouragement and discipline. We will continue to do our best and I believe correct these issues in short order. Thank you again for the e-mail.
****************************************************************
Response from Argeri Layton, Director of Business Operations Wyoming Cavalry
Dear Mr. "Texxx" (edit):
I am one of the owners of the Wyoming Cavalry Professional Indoor Football team, based in Casper, WY; I also serve as Director of Business Operations for our team. We are currently in our twelfth season of bringing professional indoor football and sports entertainment to our great fans, business partners, and supporters in the beautiful state of Wyoming.
I am in receipt of the email sent by you to the IFL League office regarding the Bloomington Extreme @ Reading Express game.
As Mr. Benezio stated in his response email, he has dutifully made the team owners aware of your concerns and we will be discussing such on a conference call next week, recognizing that your thoughts have not fallen upon deaf ears.
The reason for my email is to also thank you for taking the time to voice your concerns and for being an avid fan of indoor football and the IFL – traveling over 5000 miles to follow IFL teams is a commendable endeavor and in this economically-unfriendly climate that all businesses are facing, it is encouraging to hear the dedication from fans, such as yourself.
I also write this email to share with you some other thoughts – perhaps a different perspective – specifically about the Reading Express organization, its owners, staff, volunteers, players, coaches and other supporters. Although the Reading Express joined the IFL this year, they have graced the indoor football world for at least the past five years (forgive me as I don’t know the exact number of years in this industry), and I would put them at the top of the list in terms of professionalism, integrity, community pride, and business acumen. We have had the pleasure of working with the Reading Express organization for the past three years, and are more than delighted to be in the same league as the Express for the 2011 season.
The owners, Ted and Lisa Lavender, are upstanding members of their community and work diligently to market their team; they have cultivated an extremely professional product and they have been rewarded with a very large and supportive fan- and sponsor-base. In return, they give back to their community in a multitude of ways. In my opinion, they ARE the definition of Premier, and the primary reasons they were ‘courted’ by the IFL.
Have there been technical difficulties with the broadcasts and stats? Yes.
Have there been technical difficulties with the broadcasts and stats in the past two years with other teams that may or may not have been the sole problem of the teams? You may have answered that in your email; as we haven’t been in the IFL prior to this year, I don’t know the answer, but technology problems aren’t ALWAYS user-error. Usually, but not ALWAYS.
Have all the facts been gathered as to exactly what series of events took place that affected the aforementioned difficulties, and subsequent lack of available technology? I don’t believe so.
Did the Reading Express organization willfully or disrespectfully attempt to “not follow through” with the game-day expectations? Absolutely NOT.
Does this one problem define the Reading Express? I don’t believe so.
Does this one problem make the Reading Express an inferior team? I don’t believe so.
In closing, this email is meant to thank you for your support of indoor football and of the IFL, and to once again let you know your concerns have not fallen on deaf ears; however, I also hope it sheds a little bit of light about an exemplary organization.
Thank you,
Argeri Layton
Director of Business Operations
Wyoming Cavalry
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Post by Bouncer_Texxx on Mar 14, 2011 13:59:54 GMT -5
My reply to them (and form where I obtained their permission to post this)
CC: Tommy Benizio, Commissioner, Indoor Football League
Dear Mr Layton,
I sent the letter to Mr Benizio in frustration. I really never expected it to actually be read let alone be taken to heart. I am shocked, honored, and proud that not only are these concerns being discussed, but that a fan?s opinion really matters to the IFL.
I did not intend to cast dispersions upon the front office of Reading. I am aware that their team, along with a few others, yours included, have been solid, stand up organizations in other leagues. They drew my ire because they were hosting the scheduled game Friday night. Teams like Arizona, who haven?t updated their website in what appears to be three months appear to be far more appropriate targets.
My intent and summary in the letter was more a global frustration with things so similar in nature to what I deal with every day in my career, knowing there should be more planning and testing done. From the outside looking in, and having greater than average insight into what it takes to get live stats, a video and up to two audio feeds streaming over the internet, I often find myself stumped and concerned that it shouldn?t be complicated. I often, however must realize that not everyone shares my knowledge of computers and network technology and infrastructure, and as I did note previously, ?stuff" happens.
Only the scheduling quirk that lands my Sioux Falls Storm in Casper on a Friday night prevents me from visiting Casper this year for the first time since both teams were in the NIFL some 7 years ago. I will however, along with several hundred other Storm fans, be watching, and monitoring stats.
With your permission, and that of Mr Benizio, I wish to make public your responses to my letter via the various internet message-boards and groups that follow indoor football. I have reviewed the initial responses and did not see anything there that wasn't fit for public consumption, and I think it demonstrates a level of passion and commitment heretofore unseen for the league. I thank you both again for your responses.
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
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Post by Micah008 on Mar 14, 2011 14:57:55 GMT -5
Thanks for posting this Texxx. I am glad you (and they) took the time to rationally discuss this.
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Post by Banana Cat on Mar 14, 2011 18:44:20 GMT -5
I saw improvements this week already. Arizona and a few other org's are still lagging behind though. I hope the conference call can impress the importance of putting in extra effort and advance preparation to fix the problem areas.
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Post by Micah008 on Mar 15, 2011 13:23:06 GMT -5
It looks like the two past games with the biggest issues are being updated. They are not right yet, but the data is partially there, and looks like it may be "in progress".
A good sign, I think...
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Post by trackstar on Mar 15, 2011 16:12:17 GMT -5
The IFL should just go with a different stat system all together. From what other leagues/teams have said, the pointstreak football program is extremlely difficult to use and unreliable. The system is out-dated and hard to follow as a stats person. The IFL's problem was chosing pointstreak, not letting teams get away with no doing stats.
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Post by Bouncer_Texxx on Mar 15, 2011 17:01:48 GMT -5
The IFL should just go with a different stat system all together. From what other leagues/teams have said, the pointstreak football program is extremlely difficult to use and unreliable. The system is out-dated and hard to follow as a stats person. The IFL's problem was chosing pointstreak, not letting teams get away with no doing stats. that seems to be in direct conflict with someone who actually uses the program indoorfootballboard.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=generalifl&action=display&thread=3565
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